Arts and Cultural Management 201 – Performing Arts at West Kowloon: Towards a Model of Learning and Audience Building

Hong Kong Polytechnic University , 20.03.2018

In the near future, a number of new performing arts venues will open in the West Kowloon Cultural District, including the Xiqu Centre, opening at the end of this year, and Freespace, opening mid-2019.

In this talk, a continuation of the “Arts and Cultural Management 101” series, Ken Wong, Head of Learning and Participation, Performing Arts at West Kowloon, gives an introduction to these new venues, and looks at three key questions related audience building: Who is the intended audience for these venues? What learning and participatory experiences do we want to deliver to this audience? What strategies are needed to deliver effective learning experiences? The talk also looks at the goals of the West Kowloon Learning and Participation team, and introduces the core public programmes it is devising for the opening of these venues.

Accessibility Services:Live audio description and sign language interpretation are available upon request with at least 14 days’ advance notice.

Adverse Weather Arrangements:If Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above or Black Rainstorm Warning is in force at 11am and onwards, or if an announcement is made by the Hong Kong Observatory that the Typhoon Signal No. 8 or above is likely to be issued at 11am and onwards, the talk will be cancelled or rescheduled.

Programme Partner:

About Speaker:

Ken Wong (Head of Learning and Participation, Performing Arts, WKCDA)

Ken Wong is Head of Learning and Participation (Performing Arts) at the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority (WKCDA), responsible for formulating and leading the vision, strategy and delivery model for learning and public engagement programmes. Prior to joining WKCDA in 2017, Ken had worked in HKU SPACE and other institutions for nearly 17 years, responsible for developing regional and international networks and overseeing the curriculum design and delivery of BA and MA cultural and creative industries programmes. As College Head and Principal Lecturer in Media and Culture, he managed the strategic, academic, financial and branding aspects of the International College with close to 2,000 students. Ken published over 30 papers, articles, journal reviews and book chapters on cultural politics, creative industries, and transnational education.